The vaccination card, which the government doesn’t want referred to as a vaccination passport, will not deprive people of their basic human rights, Health Minister Joe Phaahla reportedly told News24 yesterday.

‘It is not compulsory. What we are exploring is to use some aspect of what is generally called vaccine passports. We just want to call it a vaccination card/proof, through which we can use that as an encouragement and incentive.'

News24 previously reported that Phaahla was ‘quite certain’ a time would come when public facilities would not be accessible without proof of vaccination.

During an address to the NCOP on Tuesday, Phaahla said the matter of ‘mandatory vaccination and policy of prohibiting some who don't want to vaccinate from certain activities’ was under discussion at various government levels.

Yesterday he said the government hoped to conclude the plan of using the vaccination card/proof in the next two weeks.

He explained: ‘I am not using the word passport because essentially it will not deprive people of basic human rights. It won't deprive you of buying food, getting an education, or accessing healthcare, but we are talking about social and economic activity.’

He added that, even in the Constitution, all rights have limitations.

Full News24 report